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City Hall formed a task force four months ago to come up with a municipal strategy on the sex trade to fill the legal vacuum created last year when the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the country’s prostitution laws. The intent was to get ahead of the federal government’s re-drafted legislation — and city officials met that deadline by mere minutes, unveiling their plan shortly before Justice Minister Peter MacKay outlined Ottawa’s plan Wednesday.

She’s an amazing young woman with straight As and a college scholarship lined up for when she graduates from high school this spring at age 17. She’s a peer tutor who runs programs at school for at-risk youth using some of what she learned at a summer arts program last year. And, she volunteers 20 hours a week.

Leaders of Alberta First Nations added their voices Thursday to a chorus of opposition party calls for the Alberta PC government to take immediate action to address the deaths of children in care. First Nations chiefs complained too many aboriginal children are being taken into government care and more supports are needed to keep children in their homes

A Calgary police program dedicated to steering youngsters away from criminal activity and gang-related ties is being touted as a success. The Youth At Risk Development Program pairs police and social workers with children between the ages of 10 and 17 who are exhibiting criminal behavior or are developing ties in the gang world.

Alberta’s health minister is backing a controversial decision to cut a veterans parking program at Calgary hospitals despite calls to overturn the move. Health Minister Fred Horne told the legislature Wednesday that Alberta Health Services made “the right decision” in phasing out a program that had allowed the Calgary Poppy Fund to purchase discounted annual hospital parking passes that were then used for free by veterans and their spouses.

CALGARY — Sandy Shuler never thought she’d be a statistic. Growing up in what she describes as a loving and caring home, she was sure that when she got married, it would stand the test of time. Although a majority of marriages last in Canada, 40 per cent do not.

CALGARY — The most “urgent and pressing” priority in Alberta’s child welfare system is the increasing and disproportionately high number of aboriginal youths in care — but the Redford government has no concrete plan to deal with the issue, according to a new report from the province’s child and youth advocate. “I wouldn’t expect that there could be leaps and bounds in terms of progress being made. But there ought to be some level of action,” advocate Del Graff said in an interview. “I’m asking for actions in this report, not just for policy.”

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